Joliet Junior College settles ‘free speech zone’ lawsuit

A suburban Chicago community college has agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a student who alleged the school violated her free-speech rights by prohibiting her from handing out flyers that read, “Shut Down Capitalism.”

Ivette Salazar claimed the college limited political expressions to a small campus “free speech zone.” The school will pay $30,000 to the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

Salazar saw other students distributing flyers outside the zone Nov. 28 advocating capitalism with a poster reading, “Socialism Sucks.” When she began distributing her flyers, campus police allegedly stopped her.

The school has since updated its free speech and expression policy. It allows for expressive activity throughout the college.

The college says in a statement it has a long-standing commitment to free speech and its former policies “were consistent with the First Amendment.”

Editor’s note: This article was updated to correct who receives the settlement money.